Moparts

Why won't she start!

Posted By: Youngun

Why won't she start! - 02/28/11 03:41 AM

So here's the deal,

I have a street 440. All the following ignition parts are brand new: Summit CD ignition, Summit ready to run billet distributor, MSD wires, MSD blaster coil, autolite plugs.

The problem: While turning over, NOTHING happens. No spark at the plugs or even the coil and the ignition box LED light does not indicate the trigger signals are going to the coil like it should by blinking.

So far I have found: I can get a spark from the coil by jumping the magnetic pickup wires, so the coil must be good and the ignition is capable of delivering a "fire" signal to the coil. There is voltage going to the distributor via the magnetic pickup + wire, but nothing comes out of the distributor to send a trigger signal to the ignition box. I'm not sure who makes the distributor, but the wierd thing is (for a mopar) it has 3 wires coming from it wired as follows:

BLACK (grnd)
RED (+) connected to the mag + from the ignition (VIOLET)
ORANGE (-) connected to the mag - from the ignition (GREEN)

I have not checked the gap between the reluctor and pickup, could this be the problem?

Any help would be appreciated!

(Here's the car for some eye candy, finally 98% complete after 7 years and lots of help from Moparts)

Attached picture 6500701-P1120077.JPG
Posted By: Moparmaniacc

Re: Why won't she start! - 02/28/11 03:48 AM

Definitely check the gap. I had a weak spark many years ago and that was the problem.
Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: Why won't she start! - 02/28/11 03:55 AM

See if you are getting fire at the coil positive primary terminal when someone is cranking it w the key & if not check the bulkhead and either work forward (to the coil) or backward (to the ign sw) to find the open. If yes as said see why the dist is not triggering the coil (this is a self contained dist/ecu right?) pickup gap/open/improper wiring there inside the dist
Posted By: Youngun

Re: Why won't she start! - 02/28/11 04:13 AM

The only other thing i can think of is i am supposed to use the "white" wire for trigger. The MSD ready to run billet dist appears to be similar to the summit ready to run dist with the black/red/orange wires, and the MSD instructions say to wire the white from the ignition box to the orange dist wire and the red dist wire then connects to a switched 12 v source.

That MSD dist is labeled as a magnetic pickup but does not use the purple and green "magnetic pickup" trigger wires from the ignition box?

Am i confused what a magnetic pickup dist is?

FYI i will be contacting Summit tech tomorrow to get their answer....
Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: Why won't she start! - 02/28/11 04:27 AM

A magnetic pickup dist is one of Mopars' OE 70's/early 80's dists or the MSD replacement (other brands also). a self contained dist has the ECU inside & 2 wires go from the dist to the coil positive and negative and seperately full 12V (no ballast at least on the MSD) from the ign sw to the coil positive to energize the coil/dist. I dont want to type any more that might add to the prob. If OE magnetic pickup type the PU triggers the ECU to open the coil pri. In a self contained (dist) the PU triggers the (mini) ecu (both of which are in the dist) to open the coil pri
Posted By: Sinitro

Re: Why won't she start! - 02/28/11 05:20 AM

Make sure you have gapped the reluctor properly inside the distributor.. If too wide, the coil and box will not fire...

Just my $0.02...
Posted By: Youngun

Re: Why won't she start! - 03/01/11 08:08 AM

So, in conclusion, I gapped the dist (it was a little wide). Called the Summit tech line and their ignition "guru" informed me that this particular dist should be run off the white wire trigger, not the magnetic pickup wires. There are no instructions with either the ign box or dist showing this setup so take note for future reference!

She runs, but real rough and with lots of carb backfire. Now i just have to get the timing worked out....

Thanks for the input guys.
Posted By: mikemee1331

Re: Why won't she start! - 03/01/11 01:34 PM

love the RR by the way, especially the wheels! very nice......
Posted By: zrxkawboy

Re: Why won't she start! - 03/01/11 01:50 PM

Quote:

love the RR by the way, especially the wheels! very nice......




+1...very clean!
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